
Home and Far Away
Box, Ditteridge and the
Soldiers of 1914 - 1918
Carole French, 5 November 2011
We know of 43 fatalities of Box residents in the war; many times that number returned with injuries; countless others were permanently scarred by the horrors they witnessed.
This is the story of the village at that time.
Left: Box war memorial (CMP)
Box, Ditteridge and the
Soldiers of 1914 - 1918
Carole French, 5 November 2011
We know of 43 fatalities of Box residents in the war; many times that number returned with injuries; countless others were permanently scarred by the horrors they witnessed.
This is the story of the village at that time.
Left: Box war memorial (CMP)
The Story of the War as it Occurred in the Village 1914-18
1914
The Parish magazine for August 1914, the month the Great War started, makes no mention of the politics of Europe, which were to have such a huge impact on the village. The choirboys’ annual outing by motor charabanc to Bristol Zoo, had been a great success. The contributions of ladies including Mrs Goulstone [2s.6d] and the Reverend Northey [10 shillings] towards the Sunday school treat held at Shockerwick House, by kind permission of Mr Morley, had been noted and the village had been enjoying the good weather. The parish part of the magazine was a few wrap around pages enclosing the Dawn of Day publication which had selected articles, mainly of a religious nature, with a few advertising pages.
The editorial of the September magazine, however, tells a very different story: Today we have the awful spectacle of Christendom plunged into war. We are all looking on at the spectacle unfolding so terribly before our eyes. Thousands of our fellows are wounding, maiming and killing one another. Our sons are marching to bloody death. Stern desolation and distress threaten us.
The Parish magazine for August 1914, the month the Great War started, makes no mention of the politics of Europe, which were to have such a huge impact on the village. The choirboys’ annual outing by motor charabanc to Bristol Zoo, had been a great success. The contributions of ladies including Mrs Goulstone [2s.6d] and the Reverend Northey [10 shillings] towards the Sunday school treat held at Shockerwick House, by kind permission of Mr Morley, had been noted and the village had been enjoying the good weather. The parish part of the magazine was a few wrap around pages enclosing the Dawn of Day publication which had selected articles, mainly of a religious nature, with a few advertising pages.
The editorial of the September magazine, however, tells a very different story: Today we have the awful spectacle of Christendom plunged into war. We are all looking on at the spectacle unfolding so terribly before our eyes. Thousands of our fellows are wounding, maiming and killing one another. Our sons are marching to bloody death. Stern desolation and distress threaten us.

Anson Northey, August 1914, missing
The village had already, unknowingly been struck. Anson Northey was an early casualty, in the aftermath of the battle of le Cateau, but it was not until the next spring that his parents were to realise that he was not coming home. He, however, was exceptional. As a regular soldier, he knew that he would be called to fight and had arrived in France in early August.
The women of Box and Ditteridge were then, as now, not ones to stand by, and Red Cross fundraising meetings were held. Many ladies in the Parish have been interesting themselves and working vigorously on behalf of the Red Cross Society for the relief of the families of Soldiers and Sailors. Needlework of many kinds is being done in the village. Discussion has taken place at the Parish Council as to the best way in which further help could be rendered in the village. So many have been called away and many more are expecting to go that we are afraid that many of our parochial organisations must suffer for the time being. Owing to the trouble and Anxiety of the war by which so many are affected we think it advisable that the parish tea should not be held this year.
The men going to war at this early point were volunteers, encouraged by Kitchener’s Your Country Needs You posters. Amongst them were staff of the boys school at Box: The boys department is working at a great disadvantage just now owing to a shortage in teaching staff. Mr John Bradfield, assistant Master, has offered his services to his country at this time and his place is not yet filled up. We may add that Mr Drew, the late Headmaster has also volunteered and we hear that he will be leaving for India shortly.
We do not know how many young men from Box were amongst the million that signed up before the end of the year or before conscription (of single men between 18 and 41) in March 1916. Bradfield and Drew would have been exempted in any case as they were teachers.
The village had already, unknowingly been struck. Anson Northey was an early casualty, in the aftermath of the battle of le Cateau, but it was not until the next spring that his parents were to realise that he was not coming home. He, however, was exceptional. As a regular soldier, he knew that he would be called to fight and had arrived in France in early August.
The women of Box and Ditteridge were then, as now, not ones to stand by, and Red Cross fundraising meetings were held. Many ladies in the Parish have been interesting themselves and working vigorously on behalf of the Red Cross Society for the relief of the families of Soldiers and Sailors. Needlework of many kinds is being done in the village. Discussion has taken place at the Parish Council as to the best way in which further help could be rendered in the village. So many have been called away and many more are expecting to go that we are afraid that many of our parochial organisations must suffer for the time being. Owing to the trouble and Anxiety of the war by which so many are affected we think it advisable that the parish tea should not be held this year.
The men going to war at this early point were volunteers, encouraged by Kitchener’s Your Country Needs You posters. Amongst them were staff of the boys school at Box: The boys department is working at a great disadvantage just now owing to a shortage in teaching staff. Mr John Bradfield, assistant Master, has offered his services to his country at this time and his place is not yet filled up. We may add that Mr Drew, the late Headmaster has also volunteered and we hear that he will be leaving for India shortly.
We do not know how many young men from Box were amongst the million that signed up before the end of the year or before conscription (of single men between 18 and 41) in March 1916. Bradfield and Drew would have been exempted in any case as they were teachers.

The village lost:
Reginald Gingell, 26,of The Prospect, Kingsdown, Killed in Action, Flanders
William Sumner, 28, of Albion Terrace, Box Hill missing in Flanders
William Pinnock, 54, missing in France.
By November 1914 the parishioners of Box had decided to become more involved: The Box committee of the SSFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens Families Association) have decided to make themselves responsible for the maintenance of a family of Belgian refugees. They hope that by public subscription they will be enabled to do this small share towards affording hospitality to the many who are suffering in this horrible war. The Reverend Ward at Box House will be happy to receive promises of gifts and will personally acknowledge same. Our sympathies go out to the Belgians who have lost all in their brave opposition to our common enemy.
There is a general feeling in the editorials of this period that it was the patriotic duty of the men of Box to join up but also an understanding that the war was necessary to protect England: We must all keep cool and not lose our heads. We shall hear, please God, of successes. But that will not mean that the war is over. So far as any of us can foresee, this war may be a long and protracted business. It may last many months, possibly longer still and it is practically certain that we shall get bad news before we have done with it.
Reginald Gingell, 26,of The Prospect, Kingsdown, Killed in Action, Flanders
William Sumner, 28, of Albion Terrace, Box Hill missing in Flanders
William Pinnock, 54, missing in France.
By November 1914 the parishioners of Box had decided to become more involved: The Box committee of the SSFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens Families Association) have decided to make themselves responsible for the maintenance of a family of Belgian refugees. They hope that by public subscription they will be enabled to do this small share towards affording hospitality to the many who are suffering in this horrible war. The Reverend Ward at Box House will be happy to receive promises of gifts and will personally acknowledge same. Our sympathies go out to the Belgians who have lost all in their brave opposition to our common enemy.
There is a general feeling in the editorials of this period that it was the patriotic duty of the men of Box to join up but also an understanding that the war was necessary to protect England: We must all keep cool and not lose our heads. We shall hear, please God, of successes. But that will not mean that the war is over. So far as any of us can foresee, this war may be a long and protracted business. It may last many months, possibly longer still and it is practically certain that we shall get bad news before we have done with it.

1915
Because of poor subscription numbers, and, one suspects, the slowing down of village events as the war took its toll, the parish magazine was suspended for the whole of the year of 1915. During 1915 the allied offensive along the Meuse (East of Paris) took place along with the battles of the Gallipoli Campaign and the second battle of Ypres.
The families of Box continued to count their dead.
Amongst which were:
Charles Merrett, Ashley Villas, 18, died of wounds in France
Thomas Whale, died of wounds in France
William Seekree, 45, died of wounds
Frederick Gale, 20, killed in Action on the Somme
Fred Gingell, 23, brother of Reginald, The Prospect, Kingsdown Submariner, drowned off the Dardanelles
William Franklin, 29, Box Hill, died of wounds sustained in Gallipoli, in Greece, December 1915
Because of poor subscription numbers, and, one suspects, the slowing down of village events as the war took its toll, the parish magazine was suspended for the whole of the year of 1915. During 1915 the allied offensive along the Meuse (East of Paris) took place along with the battles of the Gallipoli Campaign and the second battle of Ypres.
The families of Box continued to count their dead.
Amongst which were:
Charles Merrett, Ashley Villas, 18, died of wounds in France
Thomas Whale, died of wounds in France
William Seekree, 45, died of wounds
Frederick Gale, 20, killed in Action on the Somme
Fred Gingell, 23, brother of Reginald, The Prospect, Kingsdown Submariner, drowned off the Dardanelles
William Franklin, 29, Box Hill, died of wounds sustained in Gallipoli, in Greece, December 1915
1916
January: Many changes have taken place in the parish in the twelvemonth and we may say that the whole character of the village has changed. We have lost many of our choirmen and Sunday school teachers as well as many members of the congregation. The roll of honour as exhibited on the main street with its long list will show how many young and middle aged men have left us to serve their country in various ways. Many in our parish have suffered bereavement and there are very many anxious homes amongst us.
Amongst these anxious homes was the Bradfields: Our unfeigned sympathies go out to a member of our choir – Mr W Bradfield , who has received official intimation that their son Mr Jack Bradfield has been taken prisoner in Bulgaria.
The second conscription Act passed in May 1916 extended conscription to married men.
The war changed some things for ever, of course: The great experiment of Daylight Saving Time is now an established fact and perhaps no-one is the worse, possibly the better. The motive of the change is war economy in the saving of artificial light but perhaps there will be another saving as the change will probably tend to better health of the community.
Box continued in these summer months to make every effort it could to support its community: At the request of a lady organiser, sent by the government to increase the food supply of the country, a party of schoolboys are cultivating an allotment in The Ley. Seed potatoes were given by various gentlemen and the rent is being defrayed by a local lady. The land was in a foul condition but the lads worked with a will and in a week the whole allotment was dug and planted with potatoes.
January: Many changes have taken place in the parish in the twelvemonth and we may say that the whole character of the village has changed. We have lost many of our choirmen and Sunday school teachers as well as many members of the congregation. The roll of honour as exhibited on the main street with its long list will show how many young and middle aged men have left us to serve their country in various ways. Many in our parish have suffered bereavement and there are very many anxious homes amongst us.
Amongst these anxious homes was the Bradfields: Our unfeigned sympathies go out to a member of our choir – Mr W Bradfield , who has received official intimation that their son Mr Jack Bradfield has been taken prisoner in Bulgaria.
The second conscription Act passed in May 1916 extended conscription to married men.
The war changed some things for ever, of course: The great experiment of Daylight Saving Time is now an established fact and perhaps no-one is the worse, possibly the better. The motive of the change is war economy in the saving of artificial light but perhaps there will be another saving as the change will probably tend to better health of the community.
Box continued in these summer months to make every effort it could to support its community: At the request of a lady organiser, sent by the government to increase the food supply of the country, a party of schoolboys are cultivating an allotment in The Ley. Seed potatoes were given by various gentlemen and the rent is being defrayed by a local lady. The land was in a foul condition but the lads worked with a will and in a week the whole allotment was dug and planted with potatoes.

The villagers were excited by a surprise visit of the RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery) on their way to the front. Men were billeted in the village and kindly looked after by their host families. General Kitchener had died on the sinking of HMS Hampshire off the Orkneys on 5th June 1916. 600 men drowned with him including:
Ben Smith 31, Rose Cottage, Kingsdown
July 1st 1916 was the worst day in the history of the British Army. Twenty thousand men were killed on the battlefield of the Somme that day, and nearly forty thousand injured; this across a frontline which was the equivalent of the distance from Bath to Calne.
Edward Mac Bryan, 22, Kingsdown House, killed in Action
Dr MacBryan has received many expressions of sympathy in the loss of his son, who has been killed in the war; as is well known. Dr MacBryan’s eldest son is a prisoner of war and the third son has been wounded, but we are glad to say that he is making a good recovery. We are sorry to hear that Mr W Bascombe, a former member of our choir has recently been wounded in France and is now in hospital in England; we wish him a speedy recovery.
The Battle of the Somme continued until November 1916. The injured came home and were treated by the Red Cross hospitals, a cause dear to the hearts of all who were left at home.
Those who died on the Somme from Box and Ditteridge:
Arthur Hall, of Drewetts Mill, 20, killed in action
Those who died on the Somme whose body was never recovered and who are remembered at the Thiepval memorial along with 73,000 others who have no known grave:
George Cannings, 30, Bulls Lane, Box, September. missing
Horace Milsom, 27,Springfield House, missing, and
Reginald Phelps, 20, missing
On September 14th a Concert was held at the Hall in aid of the fund for providing comforts for wounded soldiers, there was a crowded attendance and the committee can be congratulated on the success of the effort.
In the October magazine mention is made of collections in church for the Kitchener memorial fund. The amount collected was £10.10s. Then as now, advertisements tried to have wide appeal: Mrs Cheeseman of Finsbury Park says ‘ My boy Gordon, now at the Front, was subject to Nasal catarrh. I never could find a satisfactory remedy but when I gave him Veno’s it was wonderful how he got well. Now he is away soldiering I send him the medicine, and though he is often wet in the trenches, he keeps well.
Communications between the front line soldiers of the Western Front and their homes was frequent and reliable, postal services taking less than 24 hours to transport parcels and letters to the tommies (ordinary British soldier named after Thomas Atkins) in the trenches. It was often the cessation of letters from sons and fathers which first intimated that they were wounded or missing. It was very important that mothers and wives could send home comforts to their loved one although the costs were sometimes prohibitive in homes where there was little to spare.
Ben Smith 31, Rose Cottage, Kingsdown
July 1st 1916 was the worst day in the history of the British Army. Twenty thousand men were killed on the battlefield of the Somme that day, and nearly forty thousand injured; this across a frontline which was the equivalent of the distance from Bath to Calne.
Edward Mac Bryan, 22, Kingsdown House, killed in Action
Dr MacBryan has received many expressions of sympathy in the loss of his son, who has been killed in the war; as is well known. Dr MacBryan’s eldest son is a prisoner of war and the third son has been wounded, but we are glad to say that he is making a good recovery. We are sorry to hear that Mr W Bascombe, a former member of our choir has recently been wounded in France and is now in hospital in England; we wish him a speedy recovery.
The Battle of the Somme continued until November 1916. The injured came home and were treated by the Red Cross hospitals, a cause dear to the hearts of all who were left at home.
Those who died on the Somme from Box and Ditteridge:
Arthur Hall, of Drewetts Mill, 20, killed in action
Those who died on the Somme whose body was never recovered and who are remembered at the Thiepval memorial along with 73,000 others who have no known grave:
George Cannings, 30, Bulls Lane, Box, September. missing
Horace Milsom, 27,Springfield House, missing, and
Reginald Phelps, 20, missing
On September 14th a Concert was held at the Hall in aid of the fund for providing comforts for wounded soldiers, there was a crowded attendance and the committee can be congratulated on the success of the effort.
In the October magazine mention is made of collections in church for the Kitchener memorial fund. The amount collected was £10.10s. Then as now, advertisements tried to have wide appeal: Mrs Cheeseman of Finsbury Park says ‘ My boy Gordon, now at the Front, was subject to Nasal catarrh. I never could find a satisfactory remedy but when I gave him Veno’s it was wonderful how he got well. Now he is away soldiering I send him the medicine, and though he is often wet in the trenches, he keeps well.
Communications between the front line soldiers of the Western Front and their homes was frequent and reliable, postal services taking less than 24 hours to transport parcels and letters to the tommies (ordinary British soldier named after Thomas Atkins) in the trenches. It was often the cessation of letters from sons and fathers which first intimated that they were wounded or missing. It was very important that mothers and wives could send home comforts to their loved one although the costs were sometimes prohibitive in homes where there was little to spare.

1917
A letter to the magazine in January 1917 from Reverend Ward states:
I have received some money for the purpose of defraying the postage of parcels sent to Box soldiers on active service abroad and many have availed themselves of this fund. I still have money in hand and continue to stamp parcels for those who may desire it.
1917 was dominated on the Western Front by the battles around Ypres, in particular that of Passchandaele from July.
We lost:
William Orchard, died of wounds, Iraq
John Moxham, 36,Died of Wounds, Arras
Jesse Maynard, 25,of Middlehill, killed in action, Arras
In September - Charles Fortune, 36, Wharf House, Flanders, died of wounds
Arthur Ford, 40 , Medical Corps, Flanders , died of wounds
In October - Thomas Fraser, Flanders, died of wounds
Frederick Phelps, M M, 23,killed in action France
Albert Wheatley, killed in action, Iraq
Life went on in Box: The marriage is announced of 2nd Lieutenant W S Bascombe of the Rifle Brigade to Miss Brown, Assistant at the girls’ school. Lieutenant Bascombe, a former member of the choir, was awarded the military medal for bravery in the field in July 1916. He gained his commission in March of this year and has now rejoined his regiment in France.
I have had several letters of late from many of our Box men stationed in various parts of the world, and almost all of them express the great affection they feel for their old parish and its associations; one is glad to know that nearly all these men continue in good health but we are sorry to hear that the son of Mr and Mrs Daniell of Henley, is in hospital, suffering from shell shock.
Some things did not continue as ever: There have been several paragraphs in the papers lately strongly advising that all parochial gatherings such as teas, school treats etc should not be held in these times. And it is felt to be only right that we should fall into line with these suggestions. The children, as well as their elders, begin to realize that many things which were taken as a matter of course in the days before the war, cannot go on in the same way.
Some children might never see their fathers again, and many who did, saw changed men when they returned. Those at home who had thought the war would be finished in months had been proved very mistaken; conscription now included men up to the age of 51. At the end of the battles of 1917 Box was counting the cost again:
Lewis Smith of 8, Mill Lane. Died at home of wounds November 1917
A letter to the magazine in January 1917 from Reverend Ward states:
I have received some money for the purpose of defraying the postage of parcels sent to Box soldiers on active service abroad and many have availed themselves of this fund. I still have money in hand and continue to stamp parcels for those who may desire it.
1917 was dominated on the Western Front by the battles around Ypres, in particular that of Passchandaele from July.
We lost:
William Orchard, died of wounds, Iraq
John Moxham, 36,Died of Wounds, Arras
Jesse Maynard, 25,of Middlehill, killed in action, Arras
In September - Charles Fortune, 36, Wharf House, Flanders, died of wounds
Arthur Ford, 40 , Medical Corps, Flanders , died of wounds
In October - Thomas Fraser, Flanders, died of wounds
Frederick Phelps, M M, 23,killed in action France
Albert Wheatley, killed in action, Iraq
Life went on in Box: The marriage is announced of 2nd Lieutenant W S Bascombe of the Rifle Brigade to Miss Brown, Assistant at the girls’ school. Lieutenant Bascombe, a former member of the choir, was awarded the military medal for bravery in the field in July 1916. He gained his commission in March of this year and has now rejoined his regiment in France.
I have had several letters of late from many of our Box men stationed in various parts of the world, and almost all of them express the great affection they feel for their old parish and its associations; one is glad to know that nearly all these men continue in good health but we are sorry to hear that the son of Mr and Mrs Daniell of Henley, is in hospital, suffering from shell shock.
Some things did not continue as ever: There have been several paragraphs in the papers lately strongly advising that all parochial gatherings such as teas, school treats etc should not be held in these times. And it is felt to be only right that we should fall into line with these suggestions. The children, as well as their elders, begin to realize that many things which were taken as a matter of course in the days before the war, cannot go on in the same way.
Some children might never see their fathers again, and many who did, saw changed men when they returned. Those at home who had thought the war would be finished in months had been proved very mistaken; conscription now included men up to the age of 51. At the end of the battles of 1917 Box was counting the cost again:
Lewis Smith of 8, Mill Lane. Died at home of wounds November 1917

1918
The German Spring offensive on the Western front in April 1918 took back all the hard won territory of Northern France that had cost the lives of so many in the last 3 years, but their victories were to be shortlived. America had entered the war in 1917 and the major offensives along the Meuse took their toll on the Germans. In the North, the Haig offensive of August 1918 pushed the Germans back to the Hindenburg line.
That summer, the magazine’s opening paragraph read: There is very little to record in this month’s magazine; in these abnormal times the usual routine of parish life is so altered that there are few, or none, of the ordinary events to chronicle.
The roll of honour containing the names of those from this parish who have lost their lives in the service of their country during this war, has been placed in position in the church, the work of entering the names has been carefully and beautifully done by Mrs Awdry (wife of Revered Wilbert Awdry, writer of Thomas the Tank Engine books).
Amongst the dead of that last summer were:
George Davis, 18
Frederick Smith, 35, died of wounds in Greece
Edmund Sheppard, 29 of Tutton Hill
Alfred Phelps, 18, killed in action, France
Percy Godwin, 31, killed in action, France
Kirwin Sweetland, 22, killed in action, France
Oliver Oatley, 29, killed in action, France
The armistice was signed in November 1918.
Thanksgiving services in connection with the signing of the Armistice were held in the Parish Church on Tuesday November the 12th, both morning and evening. The hearty congregational singing of the special hymns was a marked feature of the services; considering how many are away, and the shortness of the notice, the attendance in the evening was very good. On the following Sunday, together with all the other churches in the land, Thanksgiving services were continued, it was a day of profound gratitude to God, reverently and heartily expressed.
The German Spring offensive on the Western front in April 1918 took back all the hard won territory of Northern France that had cost the lives of so many in the last 3 years, but their victories were to be shortlived. America had entered the war in 1917 and the major offensives along the Meuse took their toll on the Germans. In the North, the Haig offensive of August 1918 pushed the Germans back to the Hindenburg line.
That summer, the magazine’s opening paragraph read: There is very little to record in this month’s magazine; in these abnormal times the usual routine of parish life is so altered that there are few, or none, of the ordinary events to chronicle.
The roll of honour containing the names of those from this parish who have lost their lives in the service of their country during this war, has been placed in position in the church, the work of entering the names has been carefully and beautifully done by Mrs Awdry (wife of Revered Wilbert Awdry, writer of Thomas the Tank Engine books).
Amongst the dead of that last summer were:
George Davis, 18
Frederick Smith, 35, died of wounds in Greece
Edmund Sheppard, 29 of Tutton Hill
Alfred Phelps, 18, killed in action, France
Percy Godwin, 31, killed in action, France
Kirwin Sweetland, 22, killed in action, France
Oliver Oatley, 29, killed in action, France
The armistice was signed in November 1918.
Thanksgiving services in connection with the signing of the Armistice were held in the Parish Church on Tuesday November the 12th, both morning and evening. The hearty congregational singing of the special hymns was a marked feature of the services; considering how many are away, and the shortness of the notice, the attendance in the evening was very good. On the following Sunday, together with all the other churches in the land, Thanksgiving services were continued, it was a day of profound gratitude to God, reverently and heartily expressed.

It is appropriate that we remember those of our parishes who died after the signing of the Armistice. Peace was not officially declared until the next year and many did not survive to return, or came home to die. Amongst them:
Arthur Burchell, 33, Chapel Lane, prisoner of war. November 1918
George Dancey, 23, died in hospital Etaples December 1918
Percy Vezey , 39,died of wounds at home, April 1919
Edward Lambert, 21,Kingston Villas, died of wounds, Box, July 1919
George Milsom, aged 31, Tyning Terrace, Box Hill, died of wounds, July 1920
Arthur Burchell, 33, Chapel Lane, prisoner of war. November 1918
George Dancey, 23, died in hospital Etaples December 1918
Percy Vezey , 39,died of wounds at home, April 1919
Edward Lambert, 21,Kingston Villas, died of wounds, Box, July 1919
George Milsom, aged 31, Tyning Terrace, Box Hill, died of wounds, July 1920